Gelatin dessert forming machine



July 16, 1935. c T 'wALTE ETAL 2,008,428

GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 lb Sheets-Sheet 1 (kariea T WaZzer Joaepk Be 012 INVENTORS ATTORN E'Y July 16, 1935. c WALTER ET AL 2,008,428

GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 10 Sh e e fcs-Sheet 2 g I A Q N I m J L\. I @1 1 .lIIllll C/wries 7." Wd/{er- Joaepiz Beck INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. c. T. WALTER El AL GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1952 l ll ll ll ATTORNEY.

INVENTORS Jm'ep/z Beck 'CJ'TYWKCITER El AL GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ckar'Zes T %ier Jose v71 fleck INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. c. T. WALTER El AL GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed Jufie 20, 1932 Y 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ("lza r ies 7? Walter Jose k Beck INVENTORS ATTORNEY I Wail 5. S

July 16, 1935.

C. T. WALTER ET AL GELATIN DESSERT FORMING-MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 A uQSEQQ m CLEANING 0/26 Has 2? wmer Josepiz fleck INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. c. T. WALTER ET AL Q 2,008,428 I .GELATIN DESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 ,10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Charles 7 Walker Joseph 5607? INVENTQRS July 16, 1935.

c. T. WALTER GELATINDESSERT FORMING MACHINE Filed June 20,

ET AL 2,008,428

Charles T Wdlf? Joaepk beck INV ENTORS 1O Sheets-Sheet 8 Y 5, 1935- 1 I c. T. WALTER EIIALI 2,008,428

GELATIN DESSERT FORMING- MACHINE Filed June 20, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 99 'C'ka r-Zes 7: Walter F y 24 Joseph Beck INVENTQRS ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. c. T. WALTER EI" AL- 0 28 GELATIN 'DESSERT FORMING MACHINE I 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 File June '20, 1932 maize; 7t Waller JaSepkBgclz WINVVENTORS A'ITORNEY Patented July 16, 1935 Y. 2,008,428

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Charles '1. Walter and Joseph Bech, Chicago, 111., assignors .to Swift and Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois v Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,178 15 Claims. (01.107-17) The invention relates to an automatic mafor automatically handling the product after dischine for the manufacture of gelatin dessert charge from the machine. cakes. I Fig. 2 is a detail view of the agitator of the Heretofore gelatin dessert cakes have been hopper. v

made by handoperated sheet metal forms. The Fig. 3 is a plan view of the automatic gelatin 5 apparatus and process are expensive from the dessert machine and the mechanism for handling labor standpoint; are wasteful of material and the product discharged from the machine. do not give well shaped uniform cakes. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken The object of the present invention is to prosubstantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

' 'vide a commercial, practical and comparatively Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the gearing l0 inexpensive automatic gelatin dessert cake mafor operating synchronously the conveyor and chine of strong, durable construction adapted to the feeding means for delivering the aluminum eliminate expensive and wasteful hand operated strips from the magazine to the conveyor. apparatus and capable of operating on a continu- Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional Y .ous cycle at a relatively high rate of speed and ,view of the conveyor and a portion of the magaof producing uniform well shaped cakes of gelazine.

tin dessert of standard shape and of surface Fig. 7 is. a detail longitudinal sectional view condition farsuperior to the hand made cakes. of the same.

A further object of the invention is to feed the Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on material automatically to-the machine and autothe line 88 of Fig. 7. 20

matlcally from the machine and. thereby elimi- Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of the nate the labor of manually handling the product automatic gelatin dessert machine. after discharge from the machine. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same partly broken Also it is an object of the invention to provide an away. I

automatic gelatin dessert machine which will Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal sectional view on 25 have very small clearance between the adjacent the line ll-l l of Fig. 13. moving parts of the forming dies and which will Fig. 12 is a detail view of the cleaning device. not require lubrication of such partsand at the Fig. 13 is a central vertical sectional view of same time, be freefrom distortion during heat the automatic gelatin dessert machine.

treatment and have reasonable resistance to cor- Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view on the 30 rosion, i line "-44 of Fig. 13. Y

The machine of the present invention may be Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail perspective view used in the production of gelatin tabletsof the of one of the plungers.

character -described in the claims of the copend- Fig.16 is an elevation of a portion of the autoing applications of Clarence C. Zeigler, Serial matic machine, parts being omitted to show the 35 vNo. 427,651, filed February 11, 1930, and Serial annular m o 3 fi y 1930- e at Fig. 17 isa horizontal sectional view on the line as itis fed to the machine for compression into l|--l1 of Fig. 16 partly broken away to show the tablets may be described'as afriabl p w the internal gear and the pinion for rotating the material being a slightly moist mixture of sugar, 51mm 4o gelatin, coloring flavoring and the Fig. 18 is a horiozntal sectional view on the y Y With these and other objects in view, the inline Fig vention' consists in the construction and novel ".l9i an uto to c It combination and arrangement of parts herein-- mg 8 a ma 1 W W 0 he cm of the annular cam groove, the dotted lines showing after'fully described, illustrated in the accom- 4 panying drawings and pointed out in the claims zgg adlustment for this portion or the hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor 20 is an enlarged perspective View of the details of construction, within the scope of the f f I claims, may be resorted to without departing 21 1s a e1eva 'ti0n of the same- 50 from spirit or a rifi ing any of the v Fig. 22 is a similar view showing the other side vantages of the invention. of the ejector mechanism, parts being omitted.

In the drawings:- Fig. 23 is a plan view of theejector mechanism.

5 Figure 1 is an elevation of an automatic gel'a- Fig. 24- is .a horizontal sectional view of the tindessert machine associated with the means same. I I

Fig. 25 is a detail perspective view of the cam and guides for controlling the ejector mechanism.

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the same. In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention the gelatin dessert machine and themeans for handling the product discharged from the machine are synchronously operated by an electric motor. ut any other suitable motor or source of power may, of course, be employed, as will be readily understood.

The motor i which is mounted upon a foundation plate 2 is connected by chain gearing 3 with a longitudinal shaft 4 journaled in'suitable bearings and connected. by chain gearing 5 with a speed changer 6 located at the rear portion of the foundation plate 2 and having a transverse shaft 1 extending forwardly to the front portion of the foundation slab, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The speed changer shaft is connected by a chain gear .8 with a conveyor shaft 9 located at the inner end of an endless conveyor l0 and journaled in suitable bearings of a conveyor frame II. The endless conveyor which may be of any desired construction and which consists of a series of links is arranged on sprocket wheels l2 and I3 located at the inner and outer ends of the endless conveyor and provided at intervals with strip engaging members 'l4 for carrying aluminum strips l5 from a magazine l6 to the gelatin dessert machine hereinafter fully described.

The conveyor frame may be of any desired construction and is preferably composed of side members I! and top and bottom horizontal members l8 and I9, the top member forming a table or support for the upper flight of the endless conveyor and also for the aluminum strips when the same are carried beyond the magazine by the action of the conveyor. The strips which are preferably made of aluminum and which receive the cakes of gelatin dessert material, may, of course, be made of any suitable material and they are fed from the magazine one at a time along the top table portion l8 of the conveyor frame.

The aluminum strip which is positively engaged and actuated by flight means l4 mounted on the endless conveyor contacts with the strip previously fed from the magazine and the latter contacts with the strip in advance of it so that the strips are moved along the top'member or table portion of the conveyor frame from one end of the same to the other end thereof by the action of the endless conveyor so that the strips will be carried from the magazine to the gelatin dessert machine and from the machineto the rear end of the table l8 where they are moved by hand and transferred to a drying tunnel. The gelatin dessert cakes when discharged from the gelatin machine are'automatically transferred to the aluminum strips so that it is unnecessary to handle the product manually in transferring the finished product to the strips which form trays for the product. i

The aluminum strips I! are arranged in a stack within the magazine I6 and the said magazine is preferably formed by upright angle bars 20 located at'the corners of the magazine and-also forming supports for one end of the conveyor frame. The other end of the conveyor'frame is supported by suitable posts 2i] preferably of angle bar construction. The sides of the conveyor frame extend above the table member I8 at the side edges thereof and form a channel for the aluminum strips, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The aluminum strips consist of a horizontal top portion and vertical side portions provided at their lower edges with inwardly extending horizontal flanges 2| which are spaced apart, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the ends of the strips are provided with recesses '22 formed by cutting away the side portions and bottom flanges of the strips, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

. The terminal recesses 22 of the strips enable ends of the magazine at the bottom of the same "and are preferably constructed of fiber, and in practice the rotary movement of the gear wheels 23 feed the strip by dropping the same two at a time upon the endless conveyor, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The strip engaging members i 4 of the conveyor engage and feed the lowermost strip forwardly while the aluminum strip immediately above the one engaged by the endless conveyor is held against forward movement by a suitable stop 24 until the strip reaches the lowermost position and rests directly upon the endless conveyor.

The aluminum strip feeding gears of the magazine are mounted on short transverse shafts 26 journaled in suitable bearings of the corner uprights of the magazine and provided at their rear ends with beveled gears 26 which mesh with beveled gears 2'! of a longitudinal shaft 26 located in rear of the magazine and extending the entire length of the same. The shaft 28 is connected by chain gear 29 with a smaller speed changer 30 which is connected by chain gearing 3! with the conveyor shaft 9. The speed changers 6 and 30 may be of any desired construction and adapted to control and regulate the speed of the endless conveyor and the magazine to synchronize the same with the gelatin dessert machine.

The longitudinal shaft 4 is connected by chain gearing 4 with a horizontal worm shaft 32 which operates the gelatin dessert machine and when the motor i is started, motion will be communicated to the gelatin dessert machine and the endless conveyor and the magazine will be synchronously operated.

The saidspeed changers 6 and 30 will synchronize the speed of the conveyor and the magazine with the speed of the gelatin dessert machine. V

The stationary casing of the gelatin dessert machine comprises a hollow cylindrical base 33 and an upper cylindrical section 34' provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending horizontal flange 35 bolted or otherwise secured to the hollow base section 33 and forming a top wall for the same. The hollow base is bolted or otherwise secured to the foundation slab 2 and it forms a housing for worm gearing for rotating the rotary body portion 36 consisting of a vertical sleeve thickened at its upper portion and provided at the top with a horizontal plate 31 constituting the top of the rotary body portion of the machine. The rotary body portion is arranged on a stationary vertical post 38 which is circular in cross section and upper and lower ball bearings 39 and 40 are provided at the top and bottom of the rotary body portion 36 for enabling the said body portion 36 to rotate frictionlessly on the vertical post. The lower ball bearings 40 take the vertical thrust of the rotary body portion. The vertical post is stepped in a the packed portions of the material. .enable the material to be thoroughly. mixed and flanged socket 38 which is bolted through the bottom of the lower section of the casing to the foundation slab 2:. The rotary body portion has mounted in ball bearings 43 located at opposite sides of the lower section or base of the casing of the machine at'the front thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

The rotation of the worm shaft imparts rotary movement to the rotary body portion of the gelatin dessert machine. The plate 31 which con stitutes the top of the rotary body portion of the gelatin dessert machine is circular and is equipped with an annular series of depending cylinders 44 arranged vertically and provided with rectam gular bores 45 of oblong form in cross section receiving vertically movable plungers 46. The cylinders 44 which are preferably constructed separate from the rotary body portion have their upper ends arranged in openings 41 of the disk or plate 3] and are secured to the latter by any suitable means .The plungers 46 which extend down- .wardly below the lower ends of the cylinders 44 are equipped at their lower ends with horizontally disposed rollers 48 located at the inner sides of the plungers and arranged to operate in an annular cam groove 49 preferably formed by spaced upper and lower cam sleeves'50 and 5| presenting annular cam facesto therollers of the plungers for effecting a positive vertical upward and downward movement of the plungers during the rotary movement of the body portion of the machine. The upper and lower cam sleeves 50 and 5| are stationary and may be mounted on the upper section 34 of the casing in fixed relation with the same by any suitable means. The recession of the plungers downwardly within the bores 4510f the cylinders form compression chambers in which the loose pre-mixed material is fed froma substantially segmental mixing and feeding chamber 52 of a stationary casing 53 mounted upon the upper portion of the post '38and locatedabove and fitting a portion of the disk or plate3l of the rotary body portion of the machine. v

. The casing 53 which forms the segmental mixingan'd feeding chamber 52 extends over approximately one-half of the plate 31 of the rotary body portion of the machine, as clearly illustrated in'Fig; 14 of the drawings, and it has mounted therein a. plurality of mixer shafts 54 having their upper portions mounted in ball bearlngs 55 and equipped at their lower ends with mixing blades 56 which stir the product and force the same into the compression chambers of the plate 31 and then smooth the top of the material contained in the said compression chambers. The mixing blades 56 are set at a slight angle,

as clearly illustrated'in Fig. 13 of the drawings,v

so that they operate to pack the material in the compression chambers and simultaneously smooth at the same time will assure asubstantially even amount-tot material being supplied to the compression chambers. The rotary bodyportion of the machine is preferablyequipped with six cylinders and the segmental casing 53 is preferably provided with fourmixing shafts, but the number of cylinders and mixing shafts may, of course, be varied, as will be readily understood. The mixing shafts aresimultaneously rotated in the This will same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig;

14 of the drawings, and they are connected with one another by chain drives 51 consisting of sprocket wheels mounted on the mixing shafts at the upper ends thereof and sprocket chains.

arranged on the sprocket wheels and the mixing shaft at one'end of the series isprovided with a spur pinion 58 which meshes with a horizontal spur gear wheel 59 mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 60 journaled in suitable bearings of the segmental casing 53 and provided at its lower end with a] spur pinion 6| meshing with an internal gear 62 carried by the rotary body portion of the machine. v

The internal gear 62 which surrounds the upper portion of the post 38 is suitably secured to the plate 31 of the rotating body portion of the machine and is arranged within a stationary gear cover 63. The gear cover 63 is enlarged at one side to form a. bearing for the shaft 60 and when the plate 31 rotates, motion is transmitted to the mixing shafts through the said gearing which portion which is connected with the substantially segmental feeding and mixing casing by'means of a feed line 65 consisting of a pipe of sufficient diameter. to permit the material to readily feed through the feed line by gravity and the feeding of the material from the overhead hopper is controlled by a valve plate 66 which controls the flow of the product from thehopper into the feed line. The top of the segmental casing is provided with a plurality of product inlet openings 61 and a feed line 65 is shown in the central opening 6'! in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The product receiving openings 61 will enable a plurality of overhead hoppers and. feed lines to be connected with the feeding and mixing casing.

A mixing or agitating element 68 operates within the overhead hopper and conforms to the configuration of the same. The mixing and agitating element is mounted on a vertical shaft 69 journaled in suitable'bearings carried bya frame or support 10. The agitator shaft 69 is connected with and actuated by an electric motor H suitably supported upon the framework 10 which may be of any desired construction.

As the product is released by the operation of the control .plate or valve 66 it fiows through the pression chambers in the continuously rotating plate 31 directly beneath the feed or productinlet 65 into which the said feed line extends. The cake-shaped compression chamber is formed. by the recession of'theplunger to a different depth below the upper face of the plate 31. As one compression chamber ,is filled the. rotation of the plate 31' which contains six ofthe compression chambers, causes the next compression chamber to be likewise filled and eachof the compression chambers is successively filled as it is carried beneath the product receiving opening having the feed line discharging into it. I

' As the plate 31 revolves the plungersi beneath the compression chambers which have been filled'begin torise-due'to the cam action so that the cake is gradually raised above the upperface and 5|.

,movement of the plungers is positively controlled by the cam action of the said cam sleeves.-v

When the ejection position is reached the plunger thereat has raised the formed product cake so that the top surface of the plunger is on a level with the adjacent aluminum conveyor strip and in full side surface relation with the side of the aluminum strip and closely adjacent to the same. The cake is then quickly transferred to themoving aluminum strip by the action of the ejector mechanism hereinafter described.

Following the removal of the product cake from a plunger top the latter will be gradually lowered by cam action so that when a plunger has traveled about 36 around the periphery of the machine past the ejection point in a counterclockwise direction its top has receded within the compression chamber to a clear level with the top surface of the plate 31. At this point there is located a metal scraper 12 for removing rough particles and just beyond the metal scraper is located a surface cleaning device I3 hereinafter fully described.

After the surfaces of the rotating plate 31 about the compression chamber and the surface .of the plunger top have been cleaned cam action causes the plunger to recede gradually below the surface of the rotating plate 31 so that the full size compression chamber is available by the time the filling point is again reached. This cycle of operation is continuously repeated while the machine is operated. The filling point is diametrically opposite to the ejection point while the plate surface cleaning point is about 36 past the.

ejection point in a counter-clockwise direction.

Thus, since there are six equally spaced plungers and compression chambers, the filling, ejection and cleaning operations occur at points of the plate periphery at the same time.

Due to receiving power drive from the same source, the cake forming machine and the aluminum'strip moving apparatus begin to' function simultaneously. The clockwise and-counter-clockwise rotation respectively, of the left and right spur gears 23 provides a continuous action in the lowering of the aluminum strips within the magazine IS. The ends of the aluminum strips engage directly between the consecutive teeth of the revolving spur gears 23 and in this manner thealuminum strips are continuously fed to the endless conveyor. The aluminum strips are continuously fed forwardly by the endless conveyor, the ends of the strips when on the conveyor chain being in close contact as the product ejection point is approached.

By virtue of the relative speeds of the endless conveyor and the rotary plate, the conveyor travels sufiiciently far between product cake ejections'from the successive compression chambers in the rotating plate-so that about one-half inch space is left between the adjacent cakes on the aluminum strips. The aluminum strips on receiving their quota of cakes push one another to the end of the machine where an operator removes the strips for transfer to a drying tunnel.

The layout of the cam is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 19 of the drawings. At ejection point, the plunger as indicated in Fig. 19 has reached its highest vertical position. This posi-* tion is maintained for 20' of the cycle. Leaving ejection position after removal of the cake the plunger recedes to the level of the top of the plate 31 after a travel of 15 of the cycle.

This brings the plunger almost to the metal scraper 12. During the next 55 of rotation of the plate 31 the plunger top remains level with the top surface of the plate 31 while the cleaning operation progresses. After a further travel of 45 of the cycle the plunger top has receded to its minimum vertical position, being at thistime just beneath the first set of revolving mixing blades in the feeding and mixing chamber. During the next 7 5 of the cycle. the depth of recession of the plunger remains unchanged while passing under the revolving mixing blades which have but little clearance between the blades and the revolving plate 31 causing the compression chamber tov be tightly filled withthe product due to the pressing action of the blades, all of which revolve remaining 5 of the cycle is traversed with the plunger at maximum elevation at the end of which the ejection point is reached where the ejector mechanism hereinafter described, removes the formed cake and places the same on one of the aluminum strips. This completes one cycle of the operation of the machine.

The cleaning device 13 comprises in its construction a shell 15 of sheet metal or other suit-v able material secured to the exterior of the segmental casing 53 and receiving a wiping element 16 of felt or other suitable material 'which wipes the surfaces after the same have been operated on by the scraper blade 12. The scraper blade I2 which presents its lower edge to the upper surfaces of the rotating plate 3'! and the plunger is suitably secured to the shell or casing I5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The wiping element I6 is forced downwardly into close contact with the surfaces to be cleaned by spring actuated plunger rods 11 guided in a hinged top HI of the shell 15 and carrying plates or heads 19 which bear against the upper surface of the wiping element. The plunger rods 11 and the plates 19 carried thereby are forced downwardly by coiled springs disposed on two of the plunger rods and interposed between an inverted U-shaped member or yoke 8| and suitable projections of the' said plunger rods. The cover 18 of the shell is hinged to the latter at 82 at one' end thereof and is detachably retained in its closed position by a spring catch 83 located at the other end of the shell. The catch which may be of any desired construction, is mounted on the shell and engages over the adjacent edge of the cover. When the catch is disengaged from the cover the latter is adapted to be swung upwardly to carry the spring actuated plungers out of engagement with the wiping element. This will enable the wiping element after it has been 75 in use to be removed for cleaning or replacement .by a fresh piece of felt or other material.

Following the removal of the product cake from the plunger top the latter will be gradually lowered so that when a plunger has traveled about 36 around the periphery of the rotating-blade past the ejection point the top of the plunger has receded to the level of the top surface of the plate 31 within the compression chamber. At this point is located the said metal scraping edge 12 and just beyond the latter is located the surface cleaning device which by means of spring pressure holds the felt or other cleaning element in contact with the metal surface. The scraping edge cleans the surface of coarse particles of product while the felt wiper finishes cleaning and also drying the surface of the rotating plate. To prevent difficulty in removal of product particles due to hardening or gumming, in practice, a thin slow, flowing stream of distilled water will be continuously applied to the rotating plate surface just before the cleaning elements are reached and scrapings and drip will be caught in conveniently located troughs. In practice, the cylinders, plungers and adjacent moving parts will be constructed of material such as nitraloy which does not require lubrication.

The ejector mechanism for transferring a formed cake 84 from the plunger to the aluminum strip I comprises in its construction a slidable and oscillatory ejector member 85 consisting substantially of a rectangular cap provided at the back with spaced arms 86 which are secured to spaced parallel arms 87 of a sleeve 88 having reduced portions 89 which are journaled in spaced bearings 98 of a carriage 9 I. The spaced bearings 98 are preferably provided with ball bearings 92, but any suitable anti-friction bearings may, of course, be employed and while the spaced rearwardly extending arms 86 of the ejector member are shown elevated to the arms of the sleeve the ejector member may be connected with the sleeve in any desired manner.

The journaling of the sleeve 88in the projecting bearings 98 of the carriage permits the ejector element to have both an upward and downward swinging movement to place the cap of the ejector member over the formed cake 84.and the sliding of the carriage enables the ejector member to carry the cake from the plunger to the aluminum strip I5 and place the cake thereon. After the cake has been placed on the aluminum strip I5 the cap of the ejector member is raised from the cake by the means hereinafter fully described. 4

The carriage 9I consists of a rectangular sleeve slidable on the fixed horizontalshaft 93 extending outwardly from an attaching plate 94 and rigidly secured at its inner end. Plate 95' is rigidly attached to arm 93 and serves as a. stop to limit the inward motion of carriage 9| and thereby causes cap 85 to register accurately in position over plungers 48 at the end of each ejection cycle. The fixed horizontal shaft 93 which forms a guide for the carriage is preferably provided in each of its faces with a longitudinal groove 96 forming spaced track portions 91 at each of the side faces of the shaft 93 to receive the carriage. The grooving of the faces of the shaft 93 reduces the friction incident to the sliding of the carriage 9I on the shaft. The attaching plate 94 is bolted or otherwisesecured to a fixed portion of the machine, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and of the drawings, and the slidable carriage is provided at the bottom adjacent its inner end with a with the said projection III.

depending stud 98 which is engaged by a horizontal arm 99 of a vertical sleeve I88 mounted on a vertical pivot I M. The stud is round and the terminal portion of the arm is provided with a. segmental recess I82 which receives the stud. The arm 99 oscillates intermittently in a horizontal plane to reciprocate the slidable ca rriage 9 I.

The vertical pivot on which the sleeve is mounted is secured to and depends from a bracket. I83 bolted orotherwise secured to a stationary portion of the machine and having an eye I84 in which the upper end of the pivot I8I is secured. The arm 99 extends from the upper portion of the sleeve and the latter is provided at its lower portion with a cam actuated arm I85 provided with a depending roller I86 arranged to be engaged by an annular series of cams I81 carried by the plate 31 and arranged at spaced points around the periphery of the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 17 of the drawings. The roller of the cam actuated arm is maintained in firm. engagement with the cams by means of a coiled spring I88 disposed. on the pivot IN and. having having its upper end connected to the cam actuated arm and its lower end connected with a sleeve I89. The sleeve I89 which is located adjacent the lower end of the arm is provided in its lower edge with a. plurality of notches II8, one of which engages a projection II I fixed to and extending horizontally from the pivot I8I. The tension of the spring I88 is adapted to be adjusted by rotating the sleeve I89 on the pivot IM and engaging one of the notches I I8 of the sleeve I88 The cams I81 are oppositely tapered and when the roller I86 is engaged by and rides over a cam the arm is gradually moved outwardly by the cam until the peak of the movement is reached and then the arm I85 is. moved inwardly through the action of the coiled spring I88. This partially rotates the sleeve I88 first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, causing an oscillation of the carriage actuating arm 99 which reciprocates the carriage 9I. This operation is repeated at regular intervals as the cams I81 successively engage the arm I85.

The ejector element is equipped with a scraper II2 constituting the top of the cup-shaped portion of the ejector member and consisting of a horizontal top portion and inclined walls H3 located at the front and sides of the scraper and having their lower edges engaging the inner faces of the front and side walls of the ejector element. The cup-shaped portion of the ejector member consists of vertical front and side walls and the said arms 86 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the rear ends of the side walls at the upper portions thereof. The scraper is provided with a curved rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 'II4 provided at its upper rear .end with spaced eyes II5 forthe reception of a pintle IIB which hinges the arm II4 between spaced eyes II! of an attaching plate II 8 secured to the top of the slidable carriage. The hinged connection between the arm II 4 and the carriage permits relative movement of the scraper and the ejector member during a portion of the oscillatory movement of the latter. The scraper is yieldably maintained in the slightly inclined position il-.

lustrated in Fig. 21 of the drawings, by means of a leaf spring H9 disposed longitudinally of the arm H4 at the lower face thereof and extending over the pintle H6 and having one end secured between the attaching plate I I8 and the carriage.

The front portion of the spring II9 bears against the inner face of the arm II4. When the ejector member is elevated from the'position shown in full-lines in Fig. 21 of the drawings, to the position illustrated in dottedlines, the scraper and the ejector member have relative movement and the scraper which is approximately cup-shaped scrapes product crumbs from the inner faces of the walls of the ejector member, thoroughly cleaning the latter.

The ejector member is provided at the front with a stop I28 to prevent the escape of scraper II2 from ejector cup in anrupward direction and consists of a plate secured to the ejector member exteriorly of the front wall thereof and having an angularly bent upwardly and rearwardly projecting portion which in the downward movement of the ejector member enga es the scraper H2 and maintains the same in position for forming the top of the ejector member, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings. Also the relative movement of the ejector member and scraper insures a positive and rapid discharge of the formed cake 84 from the ejector member when the latter is lifted from the cake after carrying the same from the machine to the aluminum strip I5.

The ejector member is lowered from the elevated dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 21 of the drawings to the full line position shown in the said figure by means of a'cam I2I which engages a finger I 22 fixed to one end of a horizontal shaft I23 extending through and journaled in the sleeve 89 which is provided at one end with an extension I24 projecting beyond the adjacent sidebearing of the carriage SI. The finger I22 is rigid with a collar I25 fixed to the inner end of the shaft I23. The collar I25 is also provided with a depending arm I26 carrying a horizontal pin I 21 which engages the ejector member. The horizontal pin I21 extends beneath one of the side bearings 90 of the carriage and projects into the plane of the adjacent arm 86 of the ejector member andis located beneath the said arm of the ejector member and it forms a stop for limiting the downward movement of the ejector member and also is adapted to engage the ejector member for elevating the same after the ejector member has transferred the formed cake from the machine to the aluminum strip I5.

The cam operated finger i 22 when free to move is actuated in a counter-clockwise direction by a coiled spring I28 disposed on the outer end portion of the shaft H23 and having one end engaged with a projection I29 of the said shaft and its other end connected with a horizontal rod 938 mounted on the carriage at the outer end thereof and extending outwardly from the same at the inner end of the adjacent side bearing 90. When the shaft I23, which is extended beyond the sleeve to receive the said spring I28, is rotated in a clockwise direction by the cam til, the coiled spring H28 is tensloned and is adapted to rotate the said shaft I23 in a counter-clockwise direction to lift the, ejector member from the aluminum strip and the cake.

The cam I2I is formed by an approximately triangular enlargement I35 of a cam plate I32 which is in the form of a bracket, being provided at its inner end with an attaching flange I33 bolted or otherwise'secured to the plate 94 which carries the fixed horizontal shaft 83. The cam plate I 32 extends horizontally from the attaching plate 94 and is arched ,or curved transversely above and like cam I3I is concentric with the shaft I23, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings. The triangular enlargement presents to the said finger I 22 the cam edge I2I which is slightly concave and which is arranged at an angle, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 26 of the drawings, for causing the cam finger to move from the rear portion of the cam plate to the front portion thereof when the carriage moves inwardly on the shaft 93.

As the cam finger I22 is moved into clockwise direction through the action of the cam I2I the spring I28 is tensioned and maintains the finger in tight engagement with the cam face. This movement of the finger also produces'a partial rotation of the shaft I23 and a lowering of the stop pin I21 and a consequent downward movement of the ejector member after finger I38 has passed the inner edge of stop I41. The ejector member is forced downwardly by a coiled spring I34 disposed on the extension I24 of the sleeve and connected at one end to a collar I35 rigidly attached to shaft I23 by a set screw and at its other end to a finger I36 which is rigidly attached to extension I24 and consequently to arms 86 and 81.

As the cam control finger I22 approaches the inner end of the cam I2I it engages the free end I31 of a pivoted guide I38 and passes to the outer or front side of the same. The guide I38 which extends longitudinally of the cam plate is pivoted at its outer end to the same by a screw I39 extending through the cam plate and projecting upwardly beyond the same, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 20 of the drawings. The pivoted guide I38 which operates in the nature of a latch is controlled by a coiled spring I48 disposed on the screw and connected at ,one end with the same and at.

the other end with a cam plate and adapted to maintain the free end of the pivoted guide normally in contact with the 3am face or edge I2I of the cam plate. The free end of the pivoted guide I38 is beveled to fit the cam face and after the cam actuated finger I22 passes the pivoted guide the latter is snapped back by the spring I48 and presents a straight guiding edge or face to the-finger I22 which is held tightly against the guide by the tension of the spring I28 during the succeeding outward movement of the carriage BI This outward movement of the carriage carries the formed cake from the machine to the aluminum strip I5 and when the cam actuated finger I22 passes beyond the outer pivoted end of the guide I38 the spring I28 actsinstantiy to lift the ejecting member from the aluminum strip and the cake and the finger I22 is swung upwardly and inwardly or rearwardly to a position in line with the inner end of the cam I2I which is provided with a straight guiding extension I. This movement of the shaft I23 also carries the finger I36 to a position in line with a guideway formed by spaced parallel flanges I43 and I44 rigid with and depending from an extension I45 of the cam plate. The extension I45 is located at the inner or rear longitudinal edge of the cam plate and extends longitudinally from the body portion of the cam plate, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 25 and 26 of the drawings. The flanges I43 and I44 present smooth straight longitudinaily disposed guiding faces to the finger I36. During the first portion of the inward movement of the carriage the finger I36 is guided by the flanges I43 and I44 and through the rigid connection of the finger with the sleeve 88 maintains the ejecting member in an elevated position. The collar I35 to which one end of the spring I34 is connected is fixed to shaft I23. The spring tension between this collar andv the finger I36 tends to force arm 86 against stop pin I2'I except when finger I36 is restrained from rotation in a clockwise direction by projection I43. The finger I22 lifts the pivoted guide before the carriage reaches the limit of its inward movement. The straight guiding portion I4I of the cam and the front face of the flange I44 are provided with cushions I46 and I41 adapted to cushion the impact of the fingers I22 and I36 when the same are swung upwardly by the action I of the coiled spring I28,

tion until it is carried beyond the inner ends of the flanges I43 and I44 to the open space between the said flanges and the cam I2I. This open space which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 26 of the drawings permits the finger I36 to become inactive and to be rotated in a clockwise direction by the action of spring I34 thus bringing about the downward movement of the ejector cup 85, carried forwardly by the rotation of the sleeve during the downward movement of the ejecting member.

When the product cake has been formed and the rotation of the plate 31 has brought the plunger top bearing the cake ready for ejection to discharge position, the ejector mechanism has operated so'that the cup of the ejector member has descended on the cake. After the cup of the ejector member has dropped into position due to the tension of the springv I34 the carriage to Twhich the ejector member is attached travels away from the cake forming machine towards the aluminum strip I due to the action of the cam surface on the periphery of the rotating plate 32 which cam engages the roller I66 of the arm I65. This movement swings the arm 99 and actuates the carriage. As the carriage 9! moves along the shaft 92 the cup of the .ejector member is held in the solid line position shown in Fig. 21 by contact of the cam finger I22 with the pivoted guide I38 against the tension of the spring I28. At this time the finger I36 is inactive. When the finger I22 reaches the endof the pivoted guide I38 the cup of the ejector member has transferred the product cake from the plunger top to the center of the aluminum strip I5.

The cup is then instantly raised vertically from the cake by a counter-clockwise rotation of the sleeve 88 due to upward pressure of the stop pin I21 on the bottomportion of the cup of the ejector member as the cam finger I22 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction due to the tension of the spring I28 following the release of the cam finger I22 from the pivoted guide I38. As the cup of the ejector member rises clean ejection from the cup is insured by scraping contact of the cleaner or scraper element II2 with the walls of the cup. Lag in the raising of the scraper or cleaner element with respect to the rise of the-cup of the ejector member is due to the tension of the leaf spring II 9.

'With the rise of the cup the finger I36 which is also rigidly attached to the sleeve 88 has re-. volved through an equal angle in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, as the carriage 9| reverses its direction of travel practically simultaneously with the counter-clockwise movement the finger I36 approaches the guide the spring I28 is decreasing in tension. When the end of the guide flange I 43 has been reached the spring I34 causes the finger to revolve clockwise to its inactive position, thus causing the entire ejector cup assembly comprising finger I36, shell 88,"

and arms 86 and 81 to rotate about shaft I23 until arm 86 comes to rest against stop pin I2I.

Throughout the entire inward motion of the carriage 9| spring I28 forces the cam actuated finger I22 in close contact with the cam surface I2I, the finger I22 entering on the curved portion of the said cam surface I2I,'winding spring I28 preparatory to the next cycle.

As the carriage 9| travels farther on the shaft 93 and the cam actuated finger I22 approaches the end of the cam surface I2I the tension of the spring I28 increases and the cup-shaped portion of the ejector member continues to descend. When the end of the cam surface I2I is reached pressure of the finger I22 forces the pivoted guide to yield against the pressure of the spring I48. The finger I22 thus reaches the outside surface of the pivoted guide I38, the latter being returned to its place by the spring I40. At this point the cup of the ejector member has descended completely on the cake product on top of the plunger at the discharge or ejection point.

The operation of the machine in the manufacture of gelatin dessert cakes or tablets will now be described: The material which, as has been previously pointed out, is a slightly moist mixture of sugar, gelatin, flavoring, color, and the like, in the condition of a slightly moist friable powder, is placed in hopper 64. Agitator 68 causes the material to flow freely past the regulating valve 66 down the slide 65 into the hopper opening 61. While the material is in hopper space 52, it is constantly agitated to prevent caking and arching over openings 45. Table 37 shown in Figure 14, rotating in. the direction shown by the arrow causes cake forming pockets 45 to pass under the hopper area 52. When the pockets enter the hopper area, the plungers 46 are in their lowermost position and it will be seen, therefore, that pocket 45 at this point has the maximum volume.

' Due to the action of gravity and the agitating eifect of rotating blades 56, the material is caused to drop into pockets 45 until the pockets are entirely filled. An overcharge of material is loosely packed into the pockets. As the table continues to move and the pockets are carried further around under the hopper and as they approach the exit side of the hopper, plungers 46 are caused to move gradually upward reducing the volume of pockets 45-and expelling some of 'the excess material and at the same time compressing the material remaining in the pockets against the mass of material contained above in the hopper. This upward movement of the plungers continues until it has reached the point, just previous to the time when the pocket passes from under the hopper opening, where the volume of material in pocket 45 is the required amount for the desired finished product.

The exact amount of the upward motion of the plunger is adjustable and is controlled, as shown in Figure 19, by the left-hand portion of the cam marked Compression. The continued rotation of the table carries pockets 45 from under the open area of the hopper and brings them under the solid area, which solid area is in eifect a plate very closely adjacent to the surface of moving table 31.

While the pockets are passed under the solid plate, plungers l6 are given a further slight upward motion to compress the contents of pockets 45 to the desired thickness and to produce a smooth top surface on the cake. The continued rotation of the table causes the pockets containing the compressed material to be carried out into the open space above the table in which area the material, which has now been formed into cakes of desired size'and shape, may be transferred to suitable trays 15. As soon as pockets 45 have passed the solid region H of the hopper, plungers 4G commence to rise. This action of the plungers is brought about by the sloping approach to the discharge portion of the cam, as is shown in Figure 19 in the section following the compression portion.

At the end of the rising movement of the plungers, the formed and pressed cake 84. is resting on the top of plunger 46 which is slightly higher than the top surface of tray I5. Under these conditions it is possible to slide the cake M from plunger 46 to tray 15, the transfer being effected by the action of the ejector mechanism shown in Figure 20. Ejector cup 85 is held in the position shown-in Figure 20 in which it is centered over plunger 46. It will be noted that the end of ejector cup 85 adjacent its pivot is open. With the ejector cup in this position the cake 84 may be swept into the confines of the three walls of the ejector cup by the motion of plungers 46 with the table. As soon as the cake has reached the position in Figure 20 in which the front end of the cake has come in contact with the front end of ejector cup 85, its motion with plunger is abruptly stopped and the bottom of cake 8! commences to slide on the top surface of plunger 45. At this point the motion of the cake 84 is under the control of the ejector mechanism and at this instantthe ejector cup 85 starts to move in the dl'rectionof tray i5 carrying with it cake 34, this motion being brought about by cams ear. The distance between plunger 46 and tray i5 is comparatively short so that as the cake moves from the plunger to the tray it is at all times resting with a large part of its surface'either on plunger 55 or on both the plunger and the tray or entirely on the tray. In this manner the gap between the two supports is bridged by the cake itself.

the cake $6 is swept from plunger 45 by the straight line motion 01 ejector cup 55, it continues to move, first with a uniform acceleration and then with a uniform deceleration until it has reached a point centrally positioned over tray ill, after which its further motion is controlled by the motion of tray 65. At this instant, the ejector cup 85 is caused to swing rapidly upward about its pivot shaft I23. This swinging action takes place when arm E22 passes beyond the edge or cam ldt.

As the ejector cup swings upward about its pivot, it leaves cake 84 resting centrally on tray l5. The motion of tray 55 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 20 carries the cake away from the machine and presents an unfilled portion of tray I5 to receive the next cake.

As soon as the ejector mechanism has moved so as to release the cake on tray l5 by the upward motion of cup 85, it is ready to be returned to its initial position to receive the next cake.

.This return motion is controlled by spring I08 which causes roller M5 to follow-cams I01.

As the entire ejector assembly moves inwardly along bar 93, am :22 moves along cam surface l2! and eventually opens latch 38 and assumes a position on the outside of this latch. This motion of the ejector assembly winds spring i28.

In the meantime, ejector cup 85 is held in its up position so that it will not interfere with cake 1 84 which is now resting on tray I5 and moving with it by arm I36 which is restrained from clockwise rotation by plate 3. As soon as ejector carriage 9| has moved far enough on its inward travel along bar 93 to bring arm I36 beyond the innermost edge of plate I43, spring I34 causes the ejector cup 85 together with its controlling arm I38 to rotate in a clockwise direction until its motion is stopped by contact with projecting pin I21 which is integral with arm I22. The ejector is now in its initial position and ready to re-' ceive the next cake.

Scraper l l 2 is provided to removeany particles of the material from the interior walls of cup 85 so that clean smoothsurfaces are constantly presented to each new cake. Small quantities of material may adhere to the top surface of plungers lfi and it is desirable plungers are exactly flush with the top surface of the table.

It has been found desirable in practice to provide a small, steady stream of water playing upon the surface of the table 31 immediately preceding the scraper blade 12. This scraper blade, which consists of a piece of brass plate to which is attached a piece of soft rubber, acts as a squeegee and prevents any substantial quantity of water from being carried beyond it. The excess water flows over the edge of the table to be gathered into a suitable receptacle.

The rotation of table 31 is continuous and uniform as is the movement of conveyor chain In which carries trays i5. As each tray i5 is completely filled with cakes and is ready to be discharged from the machine, another tray enters to take its place. The surface presented by these trays is continuous and unbroken since each succeeding tray butts snugly against the end of the preceding one. The length of trays and the timing of the machinery is arranged so that the same number of cakes is deposited on each tray in such manner that no cake will come a point over joint between any two trays.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers for compress- ,1 ing material therein, a stationary casing located ed above the rotating body, a plurality of rotating devices mounted within the stationary casing and having means for feeding material to and packing the same in the compression chambers, gearing connecting the said rotating devices, a horizontal internal gear fixed to and rotating with the body, and a pinion meshing with and rotated by the internal gear and connected with the said gearing for transmitting motion from the rotating body to thesaid rotating devices.

3. A machine of the class described including a rotating body having vertical compression chambers, vertically movableplungers operating in the compression .chambers, a stationary casing located above the rotating body, a plurality of rotating devices mounted within the stationary casing and having means for feeding material to and packing the same in the compression chambers, and chain gear drives connecting the rotating devices for rotating said devices in the same direction.

4. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers, a stationary casing located above the rotating body, a plurality of vertical shafts mounted within the said casing and provided with blades for feeding and packing material within the compression chambers, chain drive gearing connecting the vertical shafts for rotating the said shafts in the same direction, an internal horizontal gear fixed to the rotating body, and a pinion meshing with the internal gear and connecting with the chain drive gearing for transmitting motion from the rotary body to. the said vertical shafts.

5. A machine of the class described including a rotating body having vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and to elevate the compressed material above the rotating body, means for removing the compressed material from the machine, and a cleaning device including a stationary shell, a wiping element mounted in the shell and arranged to wipe the surface of the rotating body after the removal of the compressed material, and means yieldably maintaining the wiping element in tight v engagement with the rotating body.

6. A machine of the class described including a rotating body having vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and to elevate the compressed material above the rotating body, means for removing the compressed material from the machine, a cleaning device including a stationary shell, a wiping element mounted on the shell and arranged to wipe the surface of the rotating body after the removal of the compressed material, a top for the shell removable from over the same, and a spring actuated plunger carried by the top for yieldably maintaining the wiping element in engagement with the rotating body.

7. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material therein and to elevate the compressed material above the rotating body, an ejector memher, and means for moving the ejector member material and to remove the material from the machine.

8. A machine'oi! the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material therein and to elevate the compressed material above the rotating body, an ejector member, and means for moving the ejector member upwardly and downwardly and for reciprocating the ejector member whereby the ejector member is carried to a position over the compressed material and is caused to remove the material from the machine.

9. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with spaced cams and having vertical-compression chambers, vertically movable plungers operating in the chambers to compress material therein and to elevate the compressed material above the rotating body, a reciprocating carriage, an oscillatory member intermittently actuated by the said cams and connected with the carriage for reciprocating the same, an ejector member mounted on the carriage, and means automatically operated by the reciprocation of the carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member whereby. the ejector member is carried to a position over the compressed material and is caused to remove the terial above the rotating body, a plurality of spaced cams carried by the rotating body, a fixed vertical pivot, a sleeve mounted on the pivot and having upper and lower arms, the lower arm being arranged in the path of and adapted to be actuated by the said cams, a spring mounted on the pivot and connected with the sleeve for moving the said lower arm inwardly and for maintaining the same in contact with the said cams, a reciprocating carriage connected with and actuated by the upper arm of the sleeve, an ejector member hinged to the carriage, and means automatically operated by the reciprocation of the carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member whereby the said ejector member is placed over the compressed material and is caused to remove the same from the machine.

ii. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically reciprocating plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and elevate the same above the rotating body, a horizontally reciprocating carriage intermittently actuated by the rotating body, a hinged ejector member mounted on the carriage and provided with a cup-shaped portion,

and means automatically operated by the reciprocation of the carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member to place the cup-shaped portion over the compressed material and to cause the ejector member to remove the material from the machine. j

12. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically reciprocating plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and elevate the same above the rotating body, a horizontally reciprocating carriage intermittently actuated by the rotating body, a hinged ejector member mounted on the carriage and provided with a cup-shaped portion, and means automatically operated by the reciprocation of the. carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member to place the cupshaped portion over the compressed material and to cause the ejector member to remove the material from the machine, said ejector member being provided at the top of the cup-shaped portion with a relatively movable scraper arranged to discharge the compressed material from the cup-shaped portion and to clean the walls thereof.

13. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically reciprocating plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and elevate the same above the rotating body, a horizontally reciprocating carriage intermittently actuated by the rotating body, an ejector member hinged to the carriage and having a cup-shaped portion provided with a relatively movable topadapted to scrape and clean the walls of the cup-shaped portion and cause the material to be discharged therefrom, yieldable means connecting the relatively movable portion of the cup-shaped portion with the carriage, and means automatically actuated by the carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member to place the cup-shaped portion over the compressed material and remove the same from the machine.

14. A machine of the class described including a rotating body provided with vertical compression chambers, vertically reciprocating plungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material and elevate the same above the rotating body, a horizontally reciprocating carriag'e intermittently actuated by the rotating body, an ejector member hinged to the carriage and provided with a cup-shaped portion, a top for the cup-shaped portion yielclably connected with the carriage and having a limited movement independently of the said cup-shaped portion whereby it is adapted to scrape and clean the walls of the cup-shaped portion and discharge the compressed material from the cup-shaped portion, and means automatically operated by the reciprocation of the carriage for raising and lowering the ejector member to place the same over the compressed material. and cause the latter to be removed from the machine.

15. A machine of the class described including a rotary body having compression chambers, vertically movableplungers operating in the compression chambers to compress material into cakes and elevate the same above the compression chambers, ejector mechanism including a fixed horizontal shaft, a carriage slidable on the shaft, an ejector member hinged to the carriage and movable downwardly to engage the cakes and also movable horizontally by the carriage to discharge the cakes from the machine, means actuated by the rotary body for intermittently reciprocating the carriage, and means automatically actuated by the carriage to raise and lower the ejector member. 1

' CHARLES T. WALTER.

- JOSEPH BECH. 

